as in tortured
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as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to
he was tormented by nightmares about the accident
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Recent Examples of tormented
Seth Doane, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
The biggest distinction between the two displays came in the form of an exciting young winger who tormented Wolverhampton Wanderers’ back line last night.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Nigel Pack has tormented Texas since his days at Miami, when the Hurricanes eliminated Texas in an Elite Eight matchup in 2023.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
But no, Tommy will not be moved, wallowing in grief for his young daughter and tormented by the death of his brother Arthur, ostensibly a suicide.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2026
Then in January, the Iranian people by the millions took to the streets, demanding freedom and an end to the dictatorship which has tormented them since 1979.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
Then in January, the Iranian people by the millions took to the streets, demanding freedom and an end to the dictatorship which has tormented them since 1979.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
On the one hand, Lady Penwood has tormented Sophie since her father’s death, denying her parentage, forcing her into servitude, and working her to the bone.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
His captors tormented him by saying that his family didn’t care about him.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
Murphy shed weight to become the wiry, brilliant theoretical physicist tormented by his own creation, the atomic bomb.
—Seth Doane, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
The biggest distinction between the two displays came in the form of an exciting young winger who tormented Wolverhampton Wanderers’ back line last night.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Nigel Pack has tormented Texas since his days at Miami, when the Hurricanes eliminated Texas in an Elite Eight matchup in 2023.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
But no, Tommy will not be moved, wallowing in grief for his young daughter and tormented by the death of his brother Arthur, ostensibly a suicide.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2026
Then in January, the Iranian people by the millions took to the streets, demanding freedom and an end to the dictatorship which has tormented them since 1979.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
Then in January, the Iranian people by the millions took to the streets, demanding freedom and an end to the dictatorship which has tormented them since 1979.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
On the one hand, Lady Penwood has tormented Sophie since her father’s death, denying her parentage, forcing her into servitude, and working her to the bone.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2026
His captors tormented him by saying that his family didn’t care about him.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tormented
Adjective
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Henshall is a hoot as the tortured inspector, though the series has recently taken on a new dimension with the addition of Ashley Jensen (so brilliant in Ricky Gervais’ Hollywood satire, Extras) as the formidable DI Ruth Calder.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
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Look, credit where credit is due, the man is good at a tortured love confession!—
Christina Grace Tucker,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But the revelry was also plagued with the yearly medical emergencies, arrests and public safety challenges.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
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Republicans and Democrats at the Capitol alike say fraud prevention is a top priority this year in the wake of scandals like the one that plagued housing stabilization services, so this is just one bill related to this topic this session.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Washington — The stalemate in Washington, DC over funding the Department of Homeland Security has led to hourslong airport security lines and frustrated travelers, but now passengers could see some airports closed altogether, the Transportation Security Administration is warning.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
18 Mar. 2026
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As Dallas officials prepared to debate City Hall’s future, a commercial real estate broker helping analyze relocation options grew frustrated when his firm was not allowed to compete for the work.—
Nick Wooten,
Dallas Morning News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the wake of 9/11, anti-immigrant sentiments were on the rise, LGBTQ+ minorities were being persecuted, and new technological advancements threatened to wreak havoc on the world.—
Matthew Huff,
IndieWire,
17 Mar. 2026
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Chandler framed himself as an alienated artist persecuted by arbitrary strictures.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In past times of tension and conflict, Iran has at times harassed shipping though the narrows, and during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, both sides attacked tankers and other vessels, using naval mines to completely shut down traffic at points.—
Jon Gambrell,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
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In past times of tension and conflict, Iran has at times harassed shipping though the narrows, and during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, both sides attacked tankers and other vessels, using naval mines to completely shut down traffic at points.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The disease afflicted homosexuals, Haitians, haemophiliacs and heroin addicts.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
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The Warriors are now 5-11 without Steph Curry, who sat courtside while afflicted with runner’s knee, and losers of four in a row.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The interview takes a bad turn when the Ralph Lauren office building is besieged by the tabloid mob.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
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But the regime, besieged by insurrections across the country, abandoned Manbij.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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As the harried solo parent of a sick child, Byrne lets the camera zoom in so close to her character’s insecurities that the audience breaks out in a cold sweat.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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In Network, as a harried TV executive, Duvall is similarly roaring, spitting some great Paddy Chayefsky soliloquies with relish.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tormented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tormented. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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